Mansour family gives back

Nora Mansour said she always taught her children that giving is more precious than receiving.

As such, the Mansour family presented a cheque for $500,000 to the Vale Living with Lakes Centre, because "it is a wonderful feeling to give back to our community by supporting Laurentian University,” Nora said, on behalf of her family.

Milad Mansour is the president of Milman Industries Inc., which, among other ventures, develops mining technology.

The funds are in support of environmental remediation studies to ensure the health and sustainability of the world’s freshwater systems.

“The future sustainability of our lakes is a pressing issue—one of the most important of our lifetimes,” Milad said.

“We need to find innovative solutions to ensure their preservation, and this is the absolute best place to do it, no question.”

Members of the Laurentian University community and special guests attended a ceremony held Oct. 1 to recognize the Mansour family’s generosity, and to celebrate the official renaming of the Vale Living with Lake Centre’s atrium as the Milad Gebrael Mansour Atrium, according to a press release.

“This contribution is very special,” said Dr. John Gunn, director of the Vale Living with Lakes Centre and Canada Research Chair in Stressed Aquatic Systems.

“Private investment of this size from a prominent Sudbury family is a clear sign that members of this community understand the importance of the work being done here at the Centre. Our students, staff and researchers will all benefit from this gift, as will the broader community and the whole of Northern Ontario.

“The leadership shown today by the Mansour family is remarkable,” said Laurentian University president Dominic Giroux.

“I have no doubt that this donation will help us achieve the outcome in our 2012-2017 Strategic Plan of having established Laurentian world-wide as the University synonymous with fresh water research. I’m excited about this new partnership, and proud to have the Mansour name associated with the Lakes Centre.”

The Mansours’ gift will be counted among a growing list of contributions made through the Sudbury Families initiative, a university-led recognition program that honours and celebrates local families who have shaped the growth and development of the city.

“The Mansours have been economic drivers in this city for many years,” said John Pollesel, The Next 50 Campaign volunteer and Sudbury Families co-chair.

“Now they are driving efforts to ensure its long-term environmental health. The example they have set here today will surely inspire others to aid in improving the quality of life of all Sudbury residents, Northern Ontarians and members of the global community.”